On November 30 NASCAR closed out the month and the 2023 racing season with their annual awards ceremonies where Ryan Blaney was crowned the 2023 Cup Series champion.

Among the awards presented at the gala event in Nashville was the crowning of the Most Popular Drivers and for the sixth year in a row Chase Elliott took home the trophy despite having a less than stellar season.  Elliott missed six weeks early in the season due to a broken leg after a snowboarding event.  He missed a seventh race when he was suspended one race for his behaviour on the track.  Elliott missed the playoffs this season after not winning any races.

Elliot, who was wearing a sling after shoulder surgery two weeks ago, spoke on winning the award saying, “I don’t ever take it for granted.  You know, I think it’s an easy thing to look at and to think that I would, but always grateful for the honor and always, always grateful to have the support that we’ve had. Like I said on stage, this has always been, to me, an extension of my family’s place in the sport and the success that they had over the years. The fans have been great to all of us, not just myself but my entire family. So that’s kind of how I look at it and certainly respect it and appreciate all that they do for me, and I’m looking forward to seeing folks back on the road next year.”  Elliott expects to be ready for the start of the 2024 season.

Fellow Cup Series driver Denny Hamlin also had shoulder surgery last month and reports that he may miss the Busch Light Clash at the Memorial Coliseum On February 4 while he continues to recuperate and rehab the shoulder.

JR Motorsports driver Justin Allgaier won the award “I don’t ever take it for granted the Xfinity Series with Hailie Deegan winning the Most Popular Driver award in the Craftsman Truck Series.

After missing out on the award last year when fellow JRM driver Noah Gragson won the award, Justin Allgaier claims Most Popular Driver Award winner for the fourth time.  AJR Motorsports driver has won the award for the past 12 years.

Moving on to the Xfinity Series for the 2024 season, Hailie Deegan claims her third Most Popular Driver Award.  She was the first female driver to win the award in the Truck Series and the second in NASCAR after Danica Patrick who won the award while in the Xfinity Series.


In a posthumous presentation, Sherry Pollex was presented with the Myers Brothers Award for her contributions to stock car racing through her charitable work against pediatric and ovarian cancer.

Pollex died in September at the age of 44 after a long battle with ovarian cancer.

It was the second time that Pollex was recognized for her contributions with the Myers Award.

Her legacy will live on through the Catwalk for a Cause fashion show and her Sherry Strong initiative.


Named for the wife of NASCAR founder Bill France, the Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award pays tribute to NASCAR fans who give their time for significant humanitarian causes.  The 2023 winner of the award is Molly Moran of Walpole, Massachusetts for her work with the Comfort Zone Camp – an organization that aid children who have lost someone significant in their lives through death. 

The NASCAR Foundation will contribute  $100,000 donation to the Comfort Zone Camp with Moran’s win.

NASCAR Foundation Vice President and Executive Director Nichole Krieger spoke on Moran via a press release saying, “Molly’s work with grieving children is difficult but important.  The relationships she builds with the campers at Comfort Zone Camp help them through the challenging time of losing a loved one. The $100,000 will help them expand their efforts into even more communities.”

The long time NASCAR fan began volunteering at the Comfort Zone Camp after losing her mother and grandmother to cancer.  Besides being a mentor to the campers she advocates for grieving children, trains volunteers, and organizes fundraising events.

Other finalists for the award were Darla Crown from the South Dakota Youth and Family Services, Jennifer Gage from GiGi’s Playhouse in Arizona, and Sandy Stanley from the City of Refuge in Georgia.  The finalists don’t go home empty handed, the NASCAR Foundation will donate $25,000 to each organization.